Multifocal electroretinography in retinitis pigmentosa.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the diagnostic potential of multifocal electroretinography for the evaluation of retinal affection by retinitis pigmentosa in a clinical setting.


METHODS
For this prospective study, multifocal electroretinograms were obtained from 38 patients who matched the inclusion criteria of either a detectable photopic Ganzfeld response or visual fields of 10 degrees or more, and from 30 normal volunteers. Recordings were performed with the visual evoked response imaging system, using a resolution of 61 hexagonal elements within a 30-degree visual field. The results of the left eye of each patient and control subject were used for statistical evaluation by the Mann-Whitney U test.


RESULTS
The 38 eligible patients included those with Usher syndrome types I and II (one patient and six patients, respectively) and those with autosomal-recessive (18), X-recessive (two), and autosomal-dominant (11) forms of retinitis pigmentosa. In 27 (71%) of these 38 patients, at least a central response of the multifocal electroretinogram was detectable. Loss of multifocal electroretinogram response density in patients with retinitis pigmentosa was significant (P < .00001) in all five eccentricity groups (concentric rings), with a progression from center to periphery. Implicit time was significantly elevated in the third eccentricity group (P < .0038) and increased further toward the periphery (P < .00001). The results did not differ notably between retinitis pigmentosa subgroups.


CONCLUSIONS
Because the multifocal electroretinogram differentiates between affected and nonaffected retinal areas, eccentricity-dependent changes in both amplitude and implicit time were found. It can therefore add to the diagnostic information of many patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
Seeliger
M
M
Department of Pathophysiology of Vision and Neuroophthalmology, University Eye Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
Kretschmann
U
U
Apfelstedt-Sylla
E
E
Rüther
K
K
Zrenner
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields